Camera module

Abstract

A camera module advantageous in simplifying an assembly process is provided. A camera module 22 includes a barrel unit 66 having a housing space S; a lens holding unit 68 which holds an imaging optical system 34 , which is housed in the housing space S, and which is supported such that the lens holding unit 68 is movable along an optical axis of the imaging optical system 34 ; an image pickup element 29 which is disposed in the barrel unit 66 and which picks up an object image guided by the imaging optical system 34 ; and a driving unit 72 which moves the lens holding unit 68 along the optical axis of the imaging optical system 34 . The barrel unit 66 includes an inner barrel 80 in which the housing space S is formed and an outer barrel 78 disposed outside the inner barrel 80 . A retaining plate 86 includes a front plate portion 86 A and two side plate portions 86 B. The retaining plate 86 clamps the inner barrel 80 and the outer barrel 78 in the optical axis direction in the state in which the front plate portion 86 A retains a front end of the outer barrel 78 and distal ends of the two side plate portions 86 B retain the rear end-face wall 8002.

1. A camera module, comprising:
 a barrel unit having a housing space; 
 a lens holding unit holding an imaging optical system, the lens holding unit being housed in the housing space and supported such that the lens holding unit is movable along an optical axis of the imaging optical system; 
 an image pickup element disposed in the barrel unit, the image pickup element picking up an object image guided by the imaging optical system; 
 a driving unit which moves the lens holding unit along the optical axis of the imaging optical system; 
 the barrel unit including an inner barrel in which the housing space is formed and an outer barrel disposed outside the inner barrel, 
 a region of the inner barrel forming a rear end-face wall which extends along a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, which closes a rear end of the outer barrel in the optical axis direction, and in which an opening for housing the image pickup element is formed; and 
 a retaining plate including a front plate portion which retains a front end of the outer barrel in the optical axis direction and closes the front end, two side plate portions bent along both sides of the front plate portion and having distal ends which retain the rear end-face wall, and an opening formed in the front plate portion for providing an optical path of the imaging optical system, 
 wherein in a state in which the front plate portion retains the front end of the outer barrel and the distal ends of the two side plate portions retain the rear end-face wall, the outer barrel is clamped in the optical axis direction by the retaining plate and the inner barrel is clamped in the optical axis direction by the outer barrel and the retaining plate, 
 wherein retaining projections are provided on an outer periphery of the rear end-face wall at two respective positions having the optical axis therebetween, retaining cut sections are formed at the distal ends of the side plate portions, and the distal ends of the two side plate portions retain the rear end-face wall by causing the projections and the cut sections to engage with each other, 
 wherein a third abutting surface extends along an imaginary plane that is perpendicular to the optical axis and is formed at the front end of the outer barrel in the optical axis direction, the front plate portion is abutted against the third abutting surface so that the front plate portion retains the front end of the outer barrel, a projecting portion is provided on the third abutting surface, a cut section engageable with, and adapted to received therein, the projecting portion is formed in the front plate portion, and the projecting portion and the cut section engage with each other with the projecting portion received in the cut section so that the front plate portion is positioned with respect to the front end of the outer barrel in the optical axis direction along an imaginary plane that is perpendicular to the optical axis. 
 
     
     
       2. The camera module according to  claim 1 , wherein in a state in which the outer barrel is placed outside the inner barrel, the barrels are combined together without rattling in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. 
     
     
       3. The camera module according to  claim 1 , wherein flat portions which are parallel to a single imaginary plane that passes through the optical axis are formed on an outer periphery of the outer barrel at positions having the optical axis therebetween, and in a state in which the front plate portion retains the front end of the outer barrel and the distal ends of the two side plate portions retain the rear end-face wall, the two side plate portions are in contact with the respective flat portions. 
     
     
       4. The camera module according to  claim 1 , wherein a first abutting surface extends along an imaginary plane that is perpendicular to the optical axis and is formed at a position where the rear end-face wall faces forward in the optical axis direction, a second abutting surface extends along an imaginary plane that is perpendicular to the optical axis and is formed at the rear end of the outer barrel in the optical axis direction, and in a state in which the outer barrel is placed outside the inner barrel, the first abutting surface and the second abutting surface are in contact with each other. 
     
     
       5. The camera module according to  claim 1 , wherein in a state in which the outer barrel is placed outside the inner barrel, a contour of the barrel unit has a rectangular plate shape having a thickness in the optical axis direction and longitudinal and lateral dimensions which are greater than the thickness, the front plate portion has a rectangular shape, and the side plate portions are bent along a pair of sides of the front plate portion which face each other. 
     
     
       6. The camera module according to  claim 1 , wherein the driving unit includes a magnet and a coil, one of the magnet or the coil being provided on the lens holding unit and another of the magnet or the coil being provided on the barrel unit. 
     
     
       7. The camera module according to  claim 1 , wherein the retaining plate is of a material having magnetic shielding characteristics. 
     
     
       8. The camera module according to  claim 1 , wherein the retaining plate is of a material having electromagnetic shielding characteristics. 
     
     
       9. The camera module according to  claim 1 , wherein the retaining plate is of a conductive material. 
     
     
       10. The camera module according to  claim 1 , wherein a treated outer surface of the front plate portion positioned at a side opposite to an inner surface which faces the front end of the outer barrel prevents reflection of light. 
     
     
       11. The camera module according to  claim 10 , wherein the treated outer surface is treated by being painted or plated.